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Tips & Techniques

Tips & Techniques is a collection of methods, tools, and jigs that our readers have devised to get things done on their own construction projects.  Email photos and descriptions of your tips to us at [email protected]; post them with the #FineHomebuildingTips hashtag on Instagram; or upload them to FineHomebuilding.com/reader-tips for a chance to have them featured in an issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine. Plus, we pay for any tips we publish.

Want to see a new Fine Homebuilding tip in your inbox every day? Then sign up for the Tip of the Day newsletter!

  • Save Batt Bags for Reuse

    Empty insulation bags can serve as handy storage for cutoff scraps of insulation or as convenient trash bags for the job site.

  • Shim Trim With Screws

    Using screws instead of wood shims is an easier way to hang and adjust preassembled window trim.

  • Prevent WRB Tears at Corners

    A piece of bevel wood siding pushes housewrap tightly into the corner without tearing.

  • Better Plumb Cuts on Hips or Valleys

    Make cleaner, more accurate plumb cuts by adjusting your saw depth for better stability on the second pass.

  • Stop the Slam

    Hinge restrictor clips prevent cabinet doors from opening past 90°, keeping them from marking up nearby walls.

  • Sand Smooth Contours

    Sand the recessed areas of a cabinet door without burning through raised edges using a homemade combination of sanding pads.

  • Steam Out Scratches

    A wet rag and a hot iron can take care of marks on unfinished wood.

  • Save Time Snapping Lines

    If you have two people, and two chalklines, tie them together and snap lines without walking back and forth.

  • Pool Noodle Ladder Protection

    These homemade ladder bumpers protect gutters, shingles, and roofing.

  • Magnetic Wall Mount

    A metal connector plate forms a handy mount for a line laser when there's no metal corner bead.

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 330 - April/May
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop
  • Issue 326 - October 2024
    • Paint Behind Strike Plates
    • Conceal Cut Ends
    • Ladder Slip Solution

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